More signs of spring in eastern Washington (Albion, Whitman Co., WA):

EVENING GROSBEAKS: They usually visit my house in mid-April. Yesterday
(May 1, 1999), I awoke to find two males at my feeder. They were there for
several hours; the most I saw at one time was four but I could hear more in
the trees. I didn't see any females but they usually pass through a bit
later. I didn't see any today.

CASSIN'S FINCH: a pair have arrived and are frequenting my feeder today (May
2).

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: There was an amazing movement of them through my
yard yesterday. At 1800 PDT, I pulled into my driveway and sat watching in
amazement as at least 70 WCSP were foraging in my grass. I had never seen
that many before. It was as if the ground was moving. They were
everywhere. I had sprinkled milo/millet all over the yard and they really
went for it.

CHIPPING SPARROW: While the massive flock of WCSP were feeding in the yard,
I spotted one CHSP also foraging there. It was at the edge of the flock and
anytime it got near a WCSP, the WCSP would run at it and displace it.

VAUX'S SWIFT: Two were flying near the Railroad Bridge Levy Ponds in
Lewiston around 1600 PDT. They were mixed in with a huge flock of swallows.

SWALLOWS: They seem to be everywhere. The sewage ponds along Albion Road
has several hundred above them. They were all around Lewiston. I haven't
had time to check the flocks closely but I know there were BARN, CLIFF,
TREE, and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.

CANADA GOOSE: The pair nesting at the sewage ponds along Albion Road have
hatched several young. I haven't been able to count them yet but there are
at least five. They are very tiny and hatched sometime yesterday.

GREAT HORNED OWL: The nest along Albion Road has only one nestling. It is
huge, almost as tall as his mother. She doesn't spend much time in the
nest.

Still no warblers or vireos of any species.

Deb Beutler
Dept. of Zoology
Washington State University
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu